Search -
Bringing Innovation to School: Empowering Students to Thrive in a Changing World
Bringing Innovation to School Empowering Students to Thrive in a Changing World Author:Suzie Boss Innovation is an essential skill 21st century learners must develop for future success. In Bringing Innovation to School: Empowering Students to Thrive in a Changing World educators will learn how to use innovation in the classroom to foster students thinking and doing. Author Suzie Boss weaves together real-life examples from schools, businesse... more »s, and social entrepreneurs to show educators that incorporating innovation in the classroom is not only possible but it's already being done across North America. Incorporating innovation in teaching and learning excites students' creativity and allows students to generate and execute ideas. Readers will see examples across grade levels and subject areas that demonstrate innovation through such diverse methods as engineering, creative arts, and simply tinkering with ideas.This book is organized in three sections. Part I explains why innovation is important and introduces common definitions and qualities of innovation. Part II examines how educators can borrow ideas from businesses, organizations, and individuals to incorporate innovation into the curriculum in world-changing ways. Spotlight Strategies for each chapter in Part II highlight the diverse ways innovation is already being used. Finally, Part III offers tips and strategies to help educators use networks to begin innovating in their own schools and classrooms.Specifically, in chapter 1, Bringing Innovation to School helps readers clarify their definition of innovation and understand why it s an essential 21st century skill. Chapter 2 details why educators must be innovators in order to help their students embrace innovation. Readers will consider their innovation profile -- examining whether they re action oriented, willing to take risks, utilizing their networks, and so on. Chapter 3 provides strategies to start introducing innovation in the classroom using authentic questions and effective teamwork. Chapters 4 and 5 explore the ideas of growing innovative ideas from within the school and integrating design thinking throughout the curriculum. In chapter 6, Boss explains why educators must make room in both the schedule and the physical space of the classroom to encourage innovation. Chapter 7 provides tips on how to take advantage of technology, specifically within the realm of engineering, at all grade levels. Chapter 8 helps educators incorporate gaming into problem-solving techniques. Chapters 9 and 10 provide steps for creating networks to share good ideas and taking action.The book ends with three appendices. Appendix A includes a list of additional online resources educators can tap to grow their innovation networks. Appendix B provides an innovation rubric for assessing specific innovation skills based on the Framework for 21st Century Skills by Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Appendix C presents a discussion guide offering reflective questions for each chapter.« less